TEQUESTA — When Jupiter Excessive senior Luke Douglas began the varsity yr, his group knew that its QB1 would take the Warriors to locations this system hadn’t been earlier than.
The query was whether or not any faculty, not to mention a Energy 5 program, would decide the 6-foot-5, 220-pound do-it-all athlete up on its radar.
Depart it to Florida State coach Mike Norvell to discover a spot for Douglas on the roster.
Douglas stated FSU Director of Participant Personnel Chuck Cantor despatched him a textual content again in January requesting that he and his household make the journey as much as Tallahassee.
“I acquired my alternative the following day,” Douglas stated with a smile. “I’ve a secured spot and I will be up there in June. I am excited to be a ‘Nole.”
On Wednesday, Douglas made it official together with his signature in a waterside ceremony at Blue Pointe Bar and Grill.
The addition marks the fifth Palm Seashore County signee to FSU’s 2024 recruiting class, which additionally has Jayden Parrish (Atlantic), athlete Ricky Knight III (Cardinal Newman) and kicker Jake Weinberg (American Heritage-Delray). Newest ‘Noles commit Amaree Williams, the No. 1 ATH within the nation earlier than reclassifying to the category of 2024, waited within the crowd gathered at Blue Pointe Bar & Grill, telephone in hand capturing the second as his latest teammate put pen to paper and commenced the chop.
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“It has been a journey for lots of causes,” Douglas stated to the gang. “I am very grateful for the folks in my life that I have been capable of undergo that journey with you guys.”
“With that being stated, I need to thank God, my household, my coaches for getting me to the purpose the place I am sitting right here immediately, however actually, the largest contributor to my success is Jesus. I’ve all the time had the items, however the second I gave the Lord my future and trusted him it doesn’t matter what, he began to attach all of the items and every little thing began to clear up.”
After signing his faculty choice, Douglas reached out to Williams for a handshake and photograph opp: “‘Noles child, let’s go.”
Jupiter will miss hidden gem
A local of Kansas earlier than calling South Florida “house straight away,” Douglas rose to native fame serving to Jupiter attain state playoffs for the primary time in 18 years because the Warriors’ quarterback, the place he excelled with 64% of passes (120 for 187) for two,114 yards and 21 passing touchdowns, including 12 extra scores on 300 dashing yards.
“He acquired us some big wins in opposition to bitter rivals,” Jupiter coach Jason Kradman. You could possibly see the flashbacks of a 24-11 season opener over Dwyer and 42-20 district championship win at Palm Seashore Gardens reel by his recollections of Douglas.
Douglas endeared himself much more to followers within the stands together with his toughness as he stayed on the sector for each snap on protection at security. Within the backfield, he recorded 21 tackles, 11 solo, and two interceptions for 65 yards. Jupiter completed 9-2 in 4M area quarterfinals, falling in a one-possession heartbreaker.
“He is a man you actually cannot exchange,” Kradman stated, grateful FSU workers “thought extremely sufficient” of Douglas to offer him a shot.
In a plot twist, Douglas will probably be making an attempt his hand at tight finish, the place of his youthful brother, Preston.
Luke, the oldest of three football-playing siblings, stated he’d be studying all he can the following few months from his 6-foot-4, 215-pound not-so-little bro, who caught eight touchdowns on 23 catches for 405 yards with the Warriors earlier than a shoulder harm final fall.
FSU’s choice might elevate eyebrows initially. Nonetheless, Benjamin Excessive soccer coach Eric Kresser, who coached outgoing Seminoles beginning quarterback Jordan Travis and incoming ATH Williams, cosigned the transfer.
‘Guys like Norvell know straight away’
“Guys like Norvell know straight away the place a child like Luke suits in after they see him,” Kresser stated.
Since final summer season, when Douglas hit the expansion spurt that late bloomers dream of, he is been figuring out with the quarterbacks at Benjamin. That is why it is no downside for former Marshall and Cincinnati Bengals QB Kresser to confirm Douglas’ athleticism.
“Lots of tight ends within the NFL are former QBs and basketball gamers,” Kresser stated, noting that Douglas performed each in highschool. He additionally reminded that Kansas Metropolis Chiefs star Travis Kelce was a quarterback at Cincinnati earlier than making the change to his present place.
“Luke’s physique kind interprets properly to the place and it is simpler to slip in there versus quarterback, which is one thing numerous guys get began at after they’re youthful,” Kresser stated. “Luke wasn’t actually full time on the place till these final couple of seasons.”
Happily for Douglas, he is no stranger to proving himself, and he is able to benefit from the prospect he has at FSU.
Florida State 2024 recruiting class
**early enrollee
*signed letter of intent
Quarterback
4-star Luke Kromenhoek – Benedictine Navy College – Savannah, Ga. – No. 5 quarterback, No. 54 total**
Operating again
4-star Kameron Davis – Dougherty – Albany, Ga. – No. 3 operating again, No. 69 total**
Vast receiver
4-star Elijah Moore – Good Counsel – Olney, Md. – No. 24 vast receiver, No. 167 total*
4-star Camdon Frier – Suwannee – Dwell Oak, Fla. – No. 67 vast receiver, No. 434 total**
Tight finish
4-star Landen Thomas – Colquitt County – Moultrie, Ga. – No. 5 tight finish, No. 64 total prospect**
Luke Douglas – Jupiter – Jupiter – Unrated*
Athlete
4-star Lawayne McCoy – Miami Central – Miami – No. 8 athlete, No. 194 total**
4-star Micahi Danzy – Florida Excessive – Tallahassee – No. 10 athlete, No. 214 total*
4-star BJ Gibson – Wilcox County – Rochelle, Ga. – No. 18 athlete, No. 396 total**
4-star Ricky Knight III – Cardinal Newman – West Palm Seashore – No. 22 athlete, No. 426 total*
4-star Amaree Williams – Benjamin College – North Palm Seashore, – No. 6 athlete, No. 207 total prospect
Offensive line
4-star Jonathan Daniels – Pine Forest – Pensacola – No. 4 inside offensive lineman, No. 118 total*
4-star Manasse Itete – Central Catholic – Modesto, Calif. – No. 27 offensive sort out, No. 359 total*
3-star Tye Hylton – Oviedo – Oviedo – No. 48 offensive sort out, No. 686 total**
3-star Jayden Todd – West Laurens – Dublin, Ga. – No. 85 offensive sort out, No. 1,111 total**
Linebacker
3-star Jayden Parrish – Atlantic – Delray Seashore – No. 61 linebacker, No. 674 total**
3-star Timir Hickman-Collins – Indian Land – Fort Mill, S.C. – No. 76 linebacker, No. 875 total**
Defensive Line
4-star DD Holmes – Gonzaga – Washington, D.C. – No. 38 defensive lineman, No. 322 total*
3-star Jamorie Flagg – Booker T. Washington – Miami – No. 102 defensive lineman, No. 869 total*
3-star D’Nas White – Jay M. Robinson – Harmony, N.C. – No. 78 defensive lineman, No. 699 total*
Defensive again
4-star Charles Lester – Venice – Venice – No. 3 cornerback, No. 39 total**
4-star Cai Bates – Edgewater – Orlando – No. 8 cornerback, No. 86 total**
4-star Jamari Howard – Norland – Miami – No. 11 cornerback, No. 111 total**
Kicker
3-star Jake Weinberg – American Heritage – Delray Seashore – No. 6 kicker, No. 2,248 total*
Beneath are the 23 recruits at present dedicated, signed or enrolled in Florida State’s 2024 class, together with their rating on 247Sports Composite.
